Reading lenses adhesively attached to lower eyelids

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to lenses adapted to be used for reading and similar close-vision purposes by individuals having defective vision, namely, presbyopia or other refractive error. The lenses are sufficiently small that when they are mounted on the lower eyelids, out of contact with the corneas, the wearer may look over the tops of the lenses at distant objects. The lenses are combined with mounting means adapted to effect adhesive mounting of the lower lens portions onto the upper margins of the lower eyelids. The disclosure further relates to a method of mounting such lenses before the eyes of persons having defective vision.

United States Patent (72] lnventors Robert L. Forrest 10911 Hunting RomDrive, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705; Rush T. Hilborn, 433 Via Lido Soud,Newport Beach, Calif. 92660 [21] Appl. No. 825,341 [22] Filed May 16,1969 [45] Patented July 6, 1971 [54] READING LENSES ADHESIVELY ATTACHEDTO LOWER EYELIDS 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 351/159, 351/160, 351/61 [51] Int. Cl G02c 7/02, G020 7/04[50] FleldofSeareh 351/160, 161, 159, 61

[56] References Cited UNllED STATES PATENTS 2,079,256 5/1937 Kaiser132/53 2,862,509 12/1958 Porte 132/53 3,102,157 8/1963 Gamber 351/160FORElGN PATENTS 1,217,230 12/1959 France 351/160 OTHER REFERENCES THEOP'l'lCIAN, Vol. XCV, May 27, 1938, pg. 311 cited, Copy in 351/44Akiyama Article in CONTACTO Vol. 4, No. 5, May, 1960, pp. 149- 152cited, Copy in 351/160 Primary ExaminerDavid H. Rubin Attorney-Gausewitzand Carr ABSTRACT: The disclosure relates to lenses adapted to be usedfor reading and similar close-vision purposes by individuals havingdefective vision, namely, presbyopia or other refractive error. Thelenses are sufficiently small that when they are mounted on the lowereyelids, out of contact with the corneas, the wearer may look over thetops of the lenses at distant objects. The lenses are combined withmounting means adapted to effect adhesive mounting of the lower lensportions onto the upper margins of the lower eyelids. The disclosurefurther relates to a method of mounting, such lenses before the eyes ofpersons having defective vision.

READING LENSES ADHESIVELY ATTACHED TO LOWER EYELIDS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the fieldof lenses adapted to correct defects of vision, and to be mountedrelatively permanently before the eyes of the wearer so that they willalways be available when it is desired to read or to look at closeobjects.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has long been known to mount falseeyelashes onto the eyelids of an individual by means of adhesives.Patents showing such eyelashes include U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,079,256 and2,862,509. There also exist large numbers of patents which teach themounting of lenses on the eyes of individuals by positioning peripheralportions of the lenses between the eyelids and in contact with theadjacent corneas. Patents of this type include US. Pats. Nos. 2,347,488,3,102,157, and French Pat. No. 1,217,230. The latter patent also teachesthe mounting of lenses by means of small suction cups which are appliedto the exterior surfaces of the eyelids and/or to exterior regionsadjacent the corners of the eyes.

The above references do not teach or suggest reading lenses which may bemounted relatively permanently by adhesive attachment to the uppermarginal edges of the lower eyelids, which do not contact the corneas,which do not interfere with distance vision, which do not preventclosing of the eyes, squinting, etc., and which do not detractsubstantially from the beauty or attractiveness of the eyes of the,user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises small corrective lensesadapted to be used for reading purposes by individuals having defects ofvision, such as presbyopia, in combination with means to effect adhesivemounting of such lenses on the upper marginal edges of the lower eyelidsand in spaced relationship from the corneas. The upper edge portions ofthe lenses are spaced sufficiently far from the adjacent portions of thecorneas to permit the upper eyelids to pass downwardly between thelenses and the corneas, so that the wearer may close his eyes. Suchupper edge portions of the lenses are disposed at elevationssufficiently low, relative to the pupils, that the wearer may look in aforward direction (for example, at distant objects) without substantialinterference from the lenses. The invention further comprises a methodof mounting such lenses on the lower eyelids by means of adhesive and insuch manner that the lenses are spaced from the corneas, the adhesivebeing secured only to the upper marginal edges of the lower eyelids andin some cases to the adjacent regions of the base portions of the lowereyelashes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a front elevational viewshowing a lens constructed and mounted in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the lens and through theeye, illustrating the fact that the wearer may look at distant objectsover the upper portion of the lens without interference thereby;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 but illustrating an eyeposition whereby the wearer is looking through the lens at readingmatter or at other close objects;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the lens;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view along 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view along 6-6 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTIONOFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 13, thevarious parts of a human eye will first be referred to in order that thepresent reading lenses, and method of mounting the same, may be clearlyunderstood. The upper and lower eyelids are indicated, respectively at10 and 11. The upper and lower eyelashes are shown, respectively, at 12and 13. The upper marginal edge of lower eyelid I1 is denoted by thereference numeral 14, being generally perpendicular to the portion ofthe cornea 16 which is adjacent to such edge. Edge 14 is normally smoothand devoid of hair, since the base portions of lower lashes 13 arelocated only in the region of edge 14 remote from the cornea.

In addition to cornea 16, the eye has a lens 17 and an iris 18. Thepupil or opening 19 in iris 18 is spaced a substantial distance aboveedge 14 of lower lid 11. Accordingly, when the eye is looking directlyforwardly as shown in FIG. 2, horizontal light rays 21 and 21a whichpass through the pupil l9 and lens 17 are also spaced a substantialdistance above lid edge 14. However, when the eye is tilted downwardly(without correspondingly tilting the head) as illustrated in FIG. 3, forexample during reading, inclined light rays 22 and 22a which passthrough pupil l9 and lens 17 are much closer to margin or edge 14. Thelower inclined light ray 22a shown in FIG. 3 passes quite close to edge14.

Each of the lenses may be described generally as comprising a readinglens portion 23 so constructed as to aid the wearer in reading a book,small print, etc. The lens 23 is sufficiently small that it will fitreadily in the space between the adjacent edges of the upper and lowereyelids 1.0 and 11. Each lens has associated therewith a mountingportion 24 which includes adhesive means 25 for mounting of the lens 23on the abovespecified marginal edge 14 of lower lid 11. Primarily, themounting is effected on the hair-free central and inner regions ofmarginal edge 14, although mounting may also be effected in part overthe base portion of lower lashes 13.

The construction and mounting of each lens 23 are such that it is spacedfrom cornea 16 a distance sufficient to insure against contacttherewith, and also to permit unimpeded flow of tears between the lensand the cornea. The construction and mounting of the lens 23 are alsosuch that the lens approximates an extension (although a transparentone) of lower lid 11, as distinguished from being transverse to thelower lid. Thus, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower lid 1] is illustrated asextending upwardly and to the left, and the lens 23 correspondinglyextends upwardly and to the left (at generally the same angle) from theupper marginal edge 14 of the lower lid.

The lens 23 is sufficiently small that "the extreme zenith portion 26thereof is below the line of vision of the wearer when he is lookingforwardly at a distant object as shown in FIG. 2, for example. A lowerhorizontal light ray 21a traveling from a distant object through thelower region of pupil 19 is then above the zenith portion 26 (thus,zenith 26 is then below the lower region of the pupil).

On the other hand, the lens is sufficiently large that inclined lightrays 22 and 22a (FIG. 3) passing from a book, etc., through pupil 19(when the eye is rotated downwardly, will pass through the lens 23 toprovide the desired vision-correction action. It is emphasized that theextreme closeness of the lens to the cornea 16 (although withouttouching the cornea) permits the lens to be small while still affordingthe wearer a substantial field of corrected vision during reading or thelike.

As shown in FIG. 1, the horizontal dimension of the lens is much lessthan the horizontal dimension of the eye, but is normally substantiallygreater than (for example, double) the vertical dimension of the lens.In a typical lens of the present type, the horizontal dimension is aboutonehalf inch, whereas the vertical dimension (including the mountingflange described below) is approximately one-fourth inch.

Although, as stated above, the lens is close to cornea 16 in order thata wide field of vision will be achieved with a small lens 23, it is notso close that the closing of the eye is prevented. Referring to FIG. 3,it will be seen that further downward movement of upper lid 10 willcause the same to pass downwardly between lens 23 and cornea 16 untilthe eye is closed. The upper eyelashes 12 will then flex upwardly andnot interfere in any substantial manner with the indicated clos ingofthe eye.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 46, the specific construction of theillustrated lens 23 is concavo-convex, the concave side being relativelyadjacent cornea 16. The upper edge 27 of the lens (having the previouslyindicated zenith portion 26) is substantially semicircular and liesgenerally in a single plane. The lower portion of lens 23 is cut offgenerally in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane containing edge27.

Provided in such last-mentioned perpendicular plane is an inwardly(toward cornea 16) extending flange or web 28 forming a major part ofthe mounting portion 24. As shown in FIG. 6, the illustrated flange orweb 28 is generally crescentshaped, the edge 29 adjacent cornea 16 beingconcave and the region 30 remote from cornea 16 being convex. Flange 28extends generally along a diameter of the semicircular upper edge 27 ofthe lens, and is between the lower edge of the lens and the planecontaining semicircular lens edge 27. The flange 28 and lens 23 arepreferably integral with each other, and are formed of a suitablesynthetic resin of a relatively unbreakable nature.

The remainder of the mounting portion 24 comprises the above-indicatedadhesive means 25. This preferably consists of a suitablepressure-sensitive adhesive secured to the bottom surface of flange orweb 28 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The pressure-sensitive adhesive may beapplied in liquid form, or it may comprise a layer of flexible plastichaving layers of pressure-sensitive adhesive preapplied to both surfacesthereof. One adhesive layer is then employed to secure the flexibleplastic to the undersurface of flange 28, whereas the other layer isemployed to secure the flange 28 to the marginal edge portion 14 oflower lid 11.

In accordance with one desirable method of applying the adhesive, alarge number of the specified flexible plastic elements containingadhesive on both faces thereof are precut to correspond generally to thecrescent shape (FIG. 6) of flange 28. These elements are then mounted ina book containing a number of pages of a release material to which thepressuresensitive adhesive does not readily adhere. It is then a simplematter for the user to press the flange 28 against a correspondingadhesive element in the book, and then lift to cause detachment of suchadhesive element from the release materi- The length of thecrescent-shaped flange 28 may be, as indicated above, on the order ofabout one-half inch. The width thereof may be on the order ofone-sixteenth inch or threethirty-second inch at its widest point. Suchwidth is sufficient to maintain the lens 23 properly oriented relativeto lid margin 14, etc. as specified above.

To summarize the method of mounting, the described lens 23 having amounting portion 24 including flange or web 28 is provided with suitableadhesive 25 which is preferably pressure sensitive. Alternatively,adhesive may be preapplied to marginal edge 14 of lower lid 11. Thecombination of lens 23 and flange 28 is then mounted on the lowermarginal edge 14 in generally the central region thereof, the positionbeing such that when the viewer looks downwardly he may see readingmaterial, etc., through the lens 23 so that correction of his vision isachieved. Normally lens 23 is magnifying in nature.

The lens is worn for long periods of time, being normally put on in themorning and removed each evening. As specified above relative to FIG. 2,the lens does not interfere with normal straight-ahead vision of distantobjects or even relatively near objects, but the lens is alwaysavailable for reading (magnifying) purposes when the wearer tilts hiseyes (not his head) downwardly as indicated relative to FIG. 3. As abovestated,

the lens does not interfere with closing of the upper eyelid, nor withnormal flow of tears.

When the wearer is looking at distant objects, he looks straight aheadand maintains his eyes fully open as shown in FIG. 2. When he desires tolook at reading material or the like, he tilts his eyeballs downwardlysomewhat (FIG. 3) and (normally) causes his upper eyelids 10 to movedownwardly. Vision is thus through the lens 23, as above described. Itis to be noted that FIGS. 2 and 3 show eye positions in a head (notshown) which IS not tilted but instead has the same erect positionrelative to both figures. Thus, as above indicated, the wearer tilts hiseyes but not his head when it is desired to read.

The lens is so small that it is not readily apparent to anyone lookingat the person wearing the lens. Thus, the wearer achieves the benefit'ofgood vision of reading matter without wearing unsightly glasses andconstantly putting them on and taking them off, without using bifocalswithout interfering with normal vision of distant objects, etc. Thefield of vision achieved through the lens when the eye is in the FIG. 3position is, as above stated, surprisingly wide because of the fact thatthe lens is so near the cornea 16. On the other hand, the wearer neednot achieve tolerance (as is necessary with .contact lenses) since thereis no contact with the cornea 16.

,Although flange 28 and the lower portion of lens 23 are describedherein as lying in -a plane, they may be made somewhat downwardly convexin order to conform closely to various shapes of lid margins 14.

We claim: 1. A lens device for compensating for defects of vision, whichcomprises:

a lens shaped to compensate for defects in the vision of a human eye,said lens being sufficiently small that it will fit in the space betweenthe adjacent marginal edges of the upper and lower eyelids of said eyewith the upper edge spaced from the upper eyelid so that the wearer mayview distant objects without looking through the lens, and means tomount said lens to only said lower eyelid and in a position between saideyelid edges and spaced forwardly from the-cornea of said eye, saidmounting means including adhesive means adherent to said lower eyelid,said lens being concavo-convex and having a generally semicircular upperedge lying generally in a single plane, said lens being adapted toeffect magnification for viewing close objects, said mounting meansincluding a horizontal flange extending inwardly from the lower edge ofsaid lens for attachment in conforming relationship to the surface ofthe upper marginal edge of said lower eyelid, said lower edge beinggenerally along a diameter of said semicircular upper edge, said flangeextending generally toward said plane of said upper edge and toward thecornea and being generally crescent-shaped in outline, said adhesivemeans being provided on the lower surface of said flange, whereby thelens is entirely supported by adhesive attachment of said flange to theupper marginal edge of said lower eyelid with the upper edge portionspaced sufficiently far from the adjacent portion of the cornea topermit the upper eyelid to pass downwardly between the lens and thecornea during eye closure.

2. The invention as claimed in claim I, in which said adhesive means isa pressure-sensitive adhesive.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said lens has ahorizontal dimension on the order of one-half inch,-and a verticaldimension on the order of one-fourth inch.

1. A lens device for compensating for defects of vision, whichcomprises: a lens shaped to compensate for defects in the vision of ahuman eye, said lens being sufficiently small that it will fit in thespace between the adjacent marginal edges of the upper and lower eyelidsof said eye with the upper edge spaced from the upper eyelid so that thewearer may view distant objects without looking through the lens, andmeans to mount said lens to only said lower eyelid and in a positionbetween said eyelid edges and spaced forwardly from the cornea of saideye, said mounting means including adhesive means adherent to said lowereyelid, said lens being concavo-convex and having a generallysemicircular upper edge lying generally in a single plane, said lensbeing adapted to effect magnification for viewing close objects, saidmounting means including a horizontal flange extending inwardly from thelower edge of said lens for attachment in conforming relationship to thesurface of the upper marginal edge of said lower eyelid, said lower edgebeing generally along a diameter of said semicircular upper edge, saidflange extending generally toward said plane of said upper edge andtoward the cornea and being generally crescent-shaped in outline, saidadhesive means being provided on the lower surface of said flange,whereby the lens is entirely supported by adhesive attachment of saidflange to the upper marginal edge of said lower eyelid with the upperedge portion spaced sufficiently far from the adjacent portion of thecornea to permit the upper eyelid to pass downwardly between the lensand the cornea during eye closure.
 2. The invention as claimed in claim1, in which said adhesive means is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
 3. Theinvention as claimed in claim 1, in which said lens has a horizontaldimension on the order of one-half inch, and a vertical dimension on theorder of one-fourth inch.